Yeast - Info. a nurse passed along & questions

[TRINATRV]

My mother was out shopping today and ran into a friend and her daughter. The lady's daughter is a nurse and of course I guess Mom dumped some of my problems on her... But, this nurse claimed that many women have chronic yeast infections that can go on for years and are mistaken for and/or cause chronic bladder problems (not sure which it was). My question would have been: How come the nurse's seem to know these things, but over all these years (8) of going to uro's and gyno's and telling them about my bladder problems - not one of them has mentioned this as a possibility to me??? (Although my new uro gave me Diflucan twice back in Oct. - just incase...)

Anyway, I have been going through worse-than-ever problems with my bladder since the end of Sept. and have been on and off of antibiotics about 3 times and now just finished my period and ... here I am starting to feel that vaginal itching again. I'm starting to think I do have this quite often, but tend to ignore it if it doesn't get severe - I mean there is just some itching with no rawness. I guess it must go away, or it would start to drive me nuts.

Does anyone else experience mild itching frequetly? What test do they do to determine if you have a yeast infection - is it done through a urine sample? I would hate to have to make an appt. with my gyno to find out if I have a yeast infection - I always end up waiting 3-4 hours at office visits with him. Can it take more than one treatment of Diflucan to get over a yeast infection - or - if it is a chronic yeast infection, how long does it take to get over it? Is there info. on diet to avoid yeast infections? (Although, my diet is so limited now with IBS and Bladder problems - I am basically down to chicken and water!!!)

[Vicki]

trinatrv- Hi. I have had very similar problems to you. My uro. says that yeast can greatly agggravate the bladder. His nurse told me they can see yeast in the urine when they look at it under the microscope. I have been on Diflucan 1-2x weekly for a year and a half. I am not cured but I am a lot better. At least I feel like the situation is under control. I do take 10mg of Elavil daily, 600 mg of Elmiron, and nightly suppositories of Baclofen and Lidocaine. However, I started out on 100 mg of Elavil a day. Blessings and Hope -Vicki

[got2go]

Hey Guys.
I just posted this message under Alternative Therapies (for lack of a better place I guess)...

Hello Everyone,
I'm Donna and this is my first posting although I have read many stories on here. Here's my story and where I am today
Then...
I was diagnosed with IC by a wonderful doctor in 1999. I researched and researched my symptoms and I came across an IC website -- it helped so much to know that I could put a name to my condition. I was going crazy trying to figure out what was going on. I went to specialist after specialist until I printed out the symptoms of IC and went to a new Internal Medicine doctor. I had the print out in my pocket. She didn't know my suspicions. I named my symptoms and told her all about the horrible tests and procedures I went through in a six month period. She told me it could be IC. Although she didn't cure me, she at least knew what I was talking about.
Now...
I average a flare-up about every 4 months, but not too bad. It usually doesn't last more than a day.... However, three weeks ago while preparing to sell my house, buy property in another state, and leave my job... I had a terrible episode. Can we all say STRESS! It brought on a bad case of IC. I tried to change my diet, eat better, rest... My husband, who is a vitamin-herb guru, encouraged me to try Triple Yeast Defense after I told him about another website I saw where someone speculated that this condition was yeast infection in the bladder and couldn't be detected by the normal urine test. I really think this is helping. It takes a few days and you have to increase the dosage slowly, but today, after taking for 4 days, I feel much much better. I can still tell the IC is lurking, but it really seems to be working. I even had a small cup of decaf coffee this morning! And a nice lunch!!! It only cost about 15.00 a bottle for 90 capsules and I'm up to 3 a day. Hey, I've tried all kinds of things and if this helps me hopefully it will help you.
I have no affiliation at all with them. I'm just trying to help those like me who go through hell with this stuff. You can get it online or at any "whole foods" type place.

[ICNDonna]

Testing for a yeast infection is fairly simple and straightforward. If you feel it might be yeast, ask your doctor to have a culture done.

Donna

[kadi]

Be careful. One of the things I learned at the IC conference I attended this past weekend in San Diego is that IC & vulvodynia are closely linked & vulvodynia can feel like a yeast infection, with burning & itching. Yeast meds can make vulvodynia worse, so it's important for those of us with IC to get tested with a culture before we take yeast meds.

Hope you feel better soon.

[July]

You mentioned taking antibiotics. Antibiotics can lead to yeast infections. If you need to take an antibiotic, it is good to take an antifungal like Diflucan at the same time to ward off yeast infections.

[got2go]

How do they test for yeast in the bladder?

[got2go]

The thing is this doesn't really burn or itch. It is more of an irritation when I pee and of course the pain and pressure of IC. The suspected yeast infection is actually in the bladder. What I'm taking is a natural not an antibiotic or a prescribed medicine.

[ICNDonna]

If you have yeast in the bladder, a urine culture should show it.

Donna